Moab shut down to visitors

[DavidJS]

I live in Utah. Our NPR Utah radio station covers the entire state, and in the past several days they have had several stories about how Moab is discouraging visitors because their health care infrastructure, like in many rural areas, is minimal. No ICUs, no infectious disease physicians, no ventilators. They do not want visitors to get sick and the community not be able to provide adequate health care. It is surprising that an area whose economy depends on tourist dollars would be discouraging visitors, but these are exceptional times.
Then tonight, Moab shut down the town to visitors. All restaurants are closed. All “short-term lodging (hotels, motels, condos, townhomes, guest homes, RV parks, and all camping on public or private lands)" in four southern Utah counties are closed to non-residents. In other words, unless you are already there, you cannot camp anywhere. More info here.
Travel safe, and Wash Your Hands.

[Iowa Dave]

This deal is bigger than they are. Unless the highways are closed with law enforcement protected gates and even then there are landstips, helispots etc. so this two way street is America whether they think so or not. People don’t want to get sick in Moab and people in Moab don’t want to get sick. I’ll be interested to see how this plays out. I wonder if they ever took any Federal Highway money. Iowa Dave

[Jon in AZ]

I don’t think they are shutting down through travel, just don’t plan to stop and stay. Keep on swimming...

Wondering if we’re moving from hoarding toilet paper to hoarding hospital beds...

Lots of popular RVing areas are like Moab- rural areas with limited health resources. Quartzsite is another location where local authorities are probably wrestling with the same issue. At least there, prime visitor season is winding down.

[ZachO]

Wow thanks for the heads up. I've been talking with some friends in Utah but hadn't heard this yet. I've been still planning to leave for my annual southern Utah trip this Friday. But 3 giant counties having their public land shut down to non-residents is the first thing I've heard in the last few weeks to make me actually start reconsidering my trip.

I get that we need to take precautions. Shutting down camping is starting to feel crazy. I understand the issue of overloading local, small health providers. Too bad for me, though. I'm just one guy with a dog who needs a gas station and grocery store and I'll be out of their way. Oh well.

[EscapeBoulder]

Interesting... It makes one wonder if the Federal Govn't will try to shut down all non-essential driving? I'm at my winter home in southern California, and planned to drive back to Colorado with our trailer in mid-April, stopping through Arizona, Utah and western Colorado on the way. Of course, except for gas stops (where I'll use gloves, then wash my hands), we plan to "self quarantine" and keep our "social distance". Both are easy when basically self-contained with a trailer.

'interesting times.

[ZachO]

The situation is "fluid" that's for sure. I've realized, given the current rate of things, that leaving the state (of residence) is not a good idea. Travel within the state still seems safe. It's entirely possible that wherever you find yourself in the next week or so, you may find yourself stuck indefinitely.

[Raspy]

Originally Posted by EscapeBoulder

Interesting... It makes one wonder if the Federal Govn't will try to shut down all non-essential driving? I'm at my winter home in southern California, and planned to drive back to Colorado with our trailer in mid-April, stopping through Arizona, Utah and western Colorado on the way. Of course, except for gas stops (where I'll use gloves, then wash my hands), we plan to "self quarantine" and keep our "social distance". Both are easy when basically self-contained with a trailer.

'interesting times.

California already has a border checkpoint system on all major highways. They are always checking for something, always staffed and require each vehicle to stop. Sometimes it's to tell them where you are coming from, sometimes it's whether you have firewood, or vegetables. Given that travelers are more likely to be exposed to coronavirus, the next step could easily be to simply turn everyone back. I'm certainly not saying that is the intent, but the mechanism is in place.

The Oliver rally, that we were going to attend, has been moved from May to September, and my upcoming Moab trip involving camping and commercial work, is just about to get cancelled.

Imagine how weird it is here in Nevada, with all casinos, bars and restaurants closed! Even banking activities inside the bank are by appointment only. Drive-up tellers are still open.

Interesting times indeed.

[thrifty bill]

How fast things have changed. We left Utah two weeks ago, after staying for over a month (VRBO). We really wanted to stay two months but the townhouse was already rented.

[IMEd]

Each year there is a huge Easter Jeep gathering in Moab. Thousands of visitors involved.
Enough to overwhelm the town in normal times.
Cancelled.


“In the best interests of everyone concerned, for the first time in 53 years, we are cancelling Easter Jeep Safari.”

[Lisle]

Hmmm. I left my car and camper at a park and fly hotel in Las Vegas last week. Flew overseas on a long planned trip w my daughter. Flying to NYC and then Vegas tomorrow to pick up car and camper. I was thinking of either staying at a friend’s house in Vegas for a couple weeks - keeping 6’ away from him and living in the camper in his front yard. Or going to a natl forest for a couple weeks. Will they be shut down do you think? Maybe it’s not smart to be in a remote place w no WiFi? Trying to think this thru.

[Steve Carlson]

I have a camping reservation in Moab mid-May. We'll see if it happens or not.

[ZachO]

Originally Posted by Lisle

Hmmm. I left my car and camper at a park and fly hotel in Las Vegas last week. Flew overseas on a long planned trip w my daughter. Flying to NYC and then Vegas tomorrow to pick up car and camper. I was thinking of either staying at a friend’s house in Vegas for a couple weeks - keeping 6’ away from him and living in the camper in his front yard. Or going to a natl forest for a couple weeks. Will they be shut down do you think? Maybe it’s not smart to be in a remote place w no WiFi? Trying to think this thru.

National forests will probably stay open. It's really up to you, but I think I'd rather be somewhere that I can hear updates. Plus, there are a lot of crazies headed out to the woods right now, some of them more excited than they've been in years that their dream of anarchy may finally become reality. If you go out in the woods, go with a group.

[Judith Neville]

I imagine the preppers are on a high now. Told you so! Well, yes you did.

[Brooks Wade]

We have had the need to utilize the clinics in Monticello, UT and Bicknell, UT while traveling. Both experiences were very positive and professional. But their capacities are very limited. This is the reason we cancelled our plans to visit Southern Utah as soon as we heard about the corona virus. I can totally understand the tourist restrictions that Moab has established.

[Raspy]

Originally Posted by Brooks Wade

We have had the need to utilize the clinics in Monticello, UT and Bicknell, UT while traveling. Both experiences were very positive and professional. But their capacities are very limited. This is the reason we cancelled our plans to visit Southern Utah as soon as we heard about the corona virus. I can totally understand the tourist restrictions that Moab has established.

We cancelled Moab too. Social distancing is difficult in groups. Plus, not being able to go to restaurants, or conveniently to stores, etc, is a problem. It's best to do what we should all recognize is the best thing right now. Stay home.

I want to stay home, not because the capacity of hospitals is limited, but because I don't want to have to got to one in the first place.

[Civilguy]

How fast things have changed.

Speaking of fast, I give this thread a half-day at most before it goes the way of the recently-deleted "Why Stay Home".

I had posted something like "Uh oh, cleanup on aisle three, folks are talking parlor tricks" just before that one went down. (Just in case anyone cares, I didn't report the thread.)

Do ya' feel lucky people? Prove me wrong!

[Raspy]

Originally Posted by Civilguy

Speaking of fast, I give this thread a half-day at most before it goes the way of the recently-deleted "Why Stay Home".

I had posted something like "Uh oh, cleanup on aisle three, folks are talking parlor tricks" just before that one went down. (Just in case anyone cares, I didn't report the thread.)

Do ya' feel lucky people? Prove me wrong!

I'm afraid you will be proven right Mike, even though this one has remained civil.

It is related to our trailers and camping too, and not really off-topic, as it covers whether we can go, what might be open or closed, why to follow the rules, etc.

Is it really true that one person can complain, and get a thread deleted, even if the rest of us want it to remain open? And even if it is being used in a friendly way? And even if it is, at least tangentially, related to our trailers?

[Civilguy]

Originally Posted by Raspy

Is it really true that one person can complain, and get a thread deleted, even if the rest of us want it to remain open? And even if it is being used in a friendly way?

I think the moderators work from the forum rules. One time long ago I was offended by a post, but they didn't pull it.



I thought there was some interesting things posted in the "Why Stay at Home" thread and was hoping to see the cleaned-up version reposted. I suspect it was pulled primarily due to a few posts at the end specifically citing our president.

One thing is clear; discussions of parlor-tricks are most-surely forbidden!